Expandable remote control organizer

ABSTRACT

A compartmentalized organizer for containing one or more remote controls. The organizer has a plurality of discrete compartments which may be substantially identical but variable with respect to size. Each compartment has a substantially rectangular shape, with both male and female connectors. The male connector is laterally disposed on the opposing side from the female connector allowing the compartments to be laterally arranged in releasably connectable fashion. The opposing exterior compartments have rounded outer edges with outward facing handles. The remotes are situated on the top panel of each compartment to allow line of sight transmission while still positioned on the compartment. The compartments may be packaged for sale in a vertically stacked arrangement and each compartment may have indicia for indicating the various devices associated with a particular remote control unit such as a cable box or DVD. Signaling means may be provided to allow for communication between compartments and the remote control containable therein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns organizing tools. More particularly, theinvention is directed to an expandable organizer for containing remotecontrols.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Organizers for containing various household or office items are wellknown. These organizers are characterized by the provision of one ormore compartments shaped to contain one or more target items. Forexample, letter holders for incoming mail have a series of vertical orhorizontal separators so that mail received on different days can beseparated until processed and filed.

With the proliferation of new consumer electronics, nearly all of whichhave a dedicated remote control, most households have several remotecontrols in a single room. For example, a TV remote, a cable box remote,a DVD remote, and a surround sound processor remote may be needed for asingle room, and the resulting clutter often results in remotes beingmisplaced, stepped on, dropped, etc. Accordingly, a means for organizingseveral remote controls so that they can be accessible at all time isneeded.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,761,010 discloses a medication organizing system forallowing patients to rapidly and easily prepare hermetically sealeddosage packages to set up their medication regime for a week, month, orlonger period of time. The device includes seven hoppers to allow thepatient to prepare a set of hermetically sealed medication packages fora given time for each day of the week.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,719,157 discloses an organizer for use in a closet whichincludes a row of side-by-side compartments at least partially formedfrom a flexible material. Each side-by-side compartment has a floor, apair of side walls extending from the floor and a mouth between the sidewalls. The organizer further includes a suspender coupled to the row ofside-by-side compartments. The suspender is configured and adapted tohang the plurality of compartments from the closet rod such that eachmouth faces a forward horizontal direction perpendicular to the axis ofthe closet rod when the organizer is hung from the rod.

The present invention is directed to a compartmentalized organizer forcontaining one or more remote controls. The organizer has a plurality ofdiscrete compartments which may be substantially identical. Eachinterior compartment has a substantially rectangular shape with bothmale and female connectors. The male connector is laterally disposed onthe opposing side from the female connector allowing the compartments tobe laterally arranged in releasably connectable fashion. The opposingexterior compartments have rounded outer edges with outward facinghandles. The compartments may he packaged for sale in a verticallystacked arrangement and each compartment may have indicia for indicatingthe various devices associated with a particular remote control unitsuch as a cable box or DVD. Signaling means may be provided to allow forcommunication between compartments and the remote control containabletherein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a major object of the invention to provide an organizer for remotecontrols.

It is another object of the invention to provide an organizer for remotecontrols comprised of a series of releasably attachable compartments.

It is another object of the invention to provide an organizer for remotecontrols which allows the remote to be operated while positioned on theorganizer.

Finally, it is a general goal of the invention to provide improvedelements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposesdescribed which is dependable and fully effective in accomplishing itsintended purposes.

These and other objects of the present invention will become readilyapparent upon further review of the following specification anddrawings.

The present invention meets or exceeds all the above objects and goals.Upon further study of the specification and appended claims, furtherobjects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to thoseskilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the presentinvention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes betterunderstood when considered with the accompanying drawings, in which likereference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout theseveral views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a plan view, partly in section, of a remote controlorganizer formed in accordance with the concept of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 shows an edge view of the organizer of FIG. 1 illustrating theconnecting element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the remote control organizer of thepresent invention, generally indicated by the numeral 10, is shown. Itcan be seen that the organizer 10 is comprised of a series of individualcompartments 20 which may be variable in size and shape. Interiorcompartments 20 have two opposing lateral edges 22 which are preferablyessentially straight to facilitate lateral arrangement of thecompartments 20, but the outward facing edges 23 of the end compartments20 are rounded for safety. Each compartment 20 includes a vertical wallportion 24 which extends around the periphery of the compartment 20, anda top panel upon 21 which a remote control 28 may be removably adhered.Situating the remote 28 on the top panel 21 allows each remote, whichtypically have line of sight IR transmitters, to be operated while stillin the compartment. End compartments 20 are differentiated from interiorcompartments 20 in that the edges and corners are rounded and handles 25are provided to facilitate lifting of the organizer 10.

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, the compartments 20are sized to “contain” an average sized remote control 28. However,remotes 28 vary greatly in size and accordingly the compartments 20 arepreferably large enough to accommodate the largest sizes of remotesavailable, which are typically the “master” controllers such as thosecommonly sold at consumer electronics retail outlets or provided bycable and satellite TV providers. These master controllers are typicallyin the range of about 8 inches in length to 2½ inches wide, with varyingdegrees of thickness. Thus, compartments should be at least 8 by 3inches, as a slight overhang will not affect the function of thecompartment 20. The compartments 20 may be sold in packages of 6, in avertically stacked arrangement to save space. The compartments 20 areprovided with male and female connectors 30, 32 respectively tofacilitate releasable connection of adjacent compartments. Theconnecters 30, 32 may be sized for snap fit or frictional engagement, ormay be glued together for a permanent attachment. The end compartments20 have either a male or female connector 30, 32 so they can beconnected to each other and to avoid having an extra connectorprotruding proximate to the handle 25. Connectors 30, 32 must besufficiently long to prevent twisting of the compartments 20. To thatend, multiple connectors 30,32 may be provided along the edges of thecompartments 20. Connectors 30, 32 may also be reinforced with metal toreduce the possibility of fatigue or failure from repeated connections.In accordance with another aspect of the invention, signaling means maybe provided to allow communication between the remote 28 and itsrespective compartment 20.

An RF transmitter receiver arrangement may be used for signaling aswould be apparent to one of skill in the art, with dedicatedtransmitters for each compartment and detachable receiver with audiotransducers for each remote 28. Also, the compartments 20 may haveindicia imprinted thereon to indicate the function that the devicecontrolled by the remote 28 performs, e.g. the TV controller would belabeled TV etc.

The top surface 21 of each compartment 20 is provided with a releasableattachment means 36 which may be a permanent magnet, a piece of velcro,or other easily releasable connector arrangement. The attachment means36 cooperates with a corresponding attachment means 38 secured to theremote control 28. The compartments 20 may be made of a magneticmaterial so that only the remote control 28 need have a magnet 38attached. Attachment means 38 may be provided with an adhesive forattachment to each of the remotes. Attachment means 36 may be integratedwith the compartment 20.

In operation, a user would purchase a set of compartments 20 inunattached condition. An attachment means 38 is then attached to eachremote. The user would then arrange and attach the compartments 20 asnecessary by aligning the attachment means 36,38, with each attachedcompartment 20 containing a single remote 28. The remaining unattachedcompartments 20 may be used as necessary when more remotes are acquiredby the user. The user may then operate the remote 28 as normal,optionally removing the remote if desired.

From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easilyascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and, withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changesand modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages andconditions.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to thesole embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodimentswithin the scope of the following claims:

1. An expandable remote control organizer for containing a plurality ofremote control units, each remote control unit used for remotelycontrolling a selected one of a plurality of disparate electronicdevices, comprising: a plurality of individual compartments, includinginterior compartments and opposing end compartments, each of saidinterior compartments having a male and female connector disposed onopposing sides, each of said compartments adapted to secure a singleremote control; said plurality of compartments having a flat top surfaceto which a releasable connecting means is secured, and each of saidcompartments capable of being releasably connected to another of saidcompartments; whereby a user may selectively attach said compartments tocreate an expandable organizer for all remote control units contained ina single room.
 2. The organizer of claim 1 wherein said compartments maycontain indicia to indicate which of said remote control units is to becontained therein.
 3. The organizer of claim 1 including sealing meansapplied to said mail and female connectors to create a permanentattachment.
 4. The organizer of claim 1 including signaling meanscontained within said compartment for signaling a particular one of saidremote controls.